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Largest Number of Artworks Chosen by PAMM’s Collector Council in a Single Session in its 15 Year Existence

(Miami, FL — May 22, 2020) — Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) is pleased to announce the acquisition of eight artworks by artists represented by Miami-based galleries for the museum’s permanent collection, the largest number of works purchased by PAMM’s Collectors Council in a single session since its inception 15 years ago. The new artworks were purchased with $145,000 provided by PAMM’s Collectors Council, which specifically dedicated this round of funding to bolstering Miami’s arts ecosystem, taking into account the vital importance of supporting local artists and galleries while acknowledging the significant financial toll that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought upon Miami’s arts community.

“As Miami’s flagship arts institution, PAMM must do what we can to shine a light on the city’s vibrant, multi-cultural community of artists and galleries who have been hit hard by the current crisis,” said PAMM Director Franklin Sirmans. “Our Collectors Council, made up of prominent Miami-based collectors, has purchased an impactful selection of works—the most ever in its 15 years of operation—which both supports the Miami arts community and bolsters our collection in a major way.”

The new acquisitions include works by artists represented by Central Fine Gallery, Emerson-Dorsch Gallery, Nina Johnson Gallery, PRIMARY, Fredric Snitzer Gallery, Mindy Solomon Gallery, and Spinello Projects. Notable works from the acquisition include a large assemblage sculpture by Yanira Collado that testifies to the importance of artistic traditions in the preservation of cultural knowledge; an abstract-geometric painting by Kelley Johnson that creates striking optical effects; a flag featuring elaborate beadwork by Haitian artist Myrlande Constant, whose work blends Vodou myths with references to the contemporary moment; a painting by Conrad Egyir, who uses portraiture with text to create narrative paintings of Afro-diasporic figures; a soft sculpture consisting of an oversized bag of sugar by Lucia Hierro; and another large abstract work on canvas by Eamon Oré-Girón.

“It would be hard to overstate the importance of our local art galleries to Miami’s cultural and economic well-being. We hope this gesture will inspire others to support these spaces (and others) during this challenging time. We are all in this together,” said René Morales, PAMM Director of Curatorial Affairs and Chief Curator.

In addition to PAMM’s dedication to supporting Miami’s arts landscape during this crisis, these acquisitions further exemplify the museum’s commitment to diversifying its collection with artworks by underrepresented communities, including the U.S. Latino experience, the African diaspora, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

The works purchased by PAMM’s Collectors Council:

Untitled/sumando lineas (2019), a multimedia assemblage by Miami-based artist Yanira Collado that addresses the concept of restoration of cultural memory

Exorcism (1994–2019), an adorned flag by Myrlande Constant, whose work blends Haitian Vodou myths with references to contemporary concerns

Eros. Allegory of Love (2019), a painting by Conrad Egyir from a series inspired by the allegory of Eros, the Greek god of love

Fet Chaloska (2005–2016), a work by Viktor El-Saieh included in a 2017 solo exhibition at Central Fine Gallery in Miami Beach, the result of extensive exploration of the sinister Haitian carnival figure Chaloska

Can I Borrow a Cup of Sugar (2020), a large sculpture by Lucia Hierro that addresses sugar as a political, economic, and social object

Untitled (2020), a painting by Kelley Johnson, whose work centers on abstract geometric motifs that create optical vibrations

Infinite Regress LXXV (2019), a painting by Eamon Oré-Girón, whose work evokes a variety of references ranging from modernist architecture and design to “New Age” cosmic diagrams, traditional textiles, and Mesoamerican indigenous cultures

Work on Felt (Variation 8) (2020), a musical sculpture by Naama Tsabar that can be activated as a live instrument in musical performances

About Pérez Art Museum Miami
Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), led by Director Franklin Sirmans, promotes artistic expression and the exchange of ideas, advancing public knowledge and appreciation of art, architecture, and design, and reflecting the diverse community of its pivotal geographic location at the crossroads of the Americas. The 36-year-old South Florida institution, formerly known as Miami Art Museum (MAM), opened a new building, designed by world-renowned architects Herzog & de Meuron, on December 4, 2013 in Downtown Miami’s Maurice A. Ferré Park. The facility is a state-of-the-art model for sustainable museum design and progressive programming and features 200,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor program space with flexible galleries; shaded outdoor verandas; a waterfront restaurant and bar; a museum shop; and an education center with a library, media lab, and classroom spaces.

About PAMM’s Collectors Council
Pérez Art Museum Miami Collectors Council is a group made up of Patron and Benefactor members dedicated to the growth of PAMM's permanent collection. Each member (or couple) donates $10,000 annually to participate in the council. The group is chaired by leading Miami collectors and functions under the direction of PAMM curators. The group meets three times a year and has direct participation in the selection of the proposed acquisitions. The council offers the participants a chance to have firsthand access to artists, curators, dealers and other collectors who share an interest in contemporary art. The opportunity to participate in Collectors Council is available to PAMM members at the Patron ($2,500) level and higher.